Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-04
DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE.


Communication from Dr.. q. G. Tyrrell,
Secretary of State Board of Health.
EDS RECORD UNION: While the Com
I; mittee of Twenty-Five are contemplating
| the improvement of this city, allow me to
suggest that one of the most important
movements toward that end has partially
been overlooked, and that is the removal of
the garbage and waste of the city. II the
committee will cross the levee on K street,
it will see and smell some excavated and
vacant blocks between Eleventh and
Twelfth streets which are being fllled day
after day with the most repugnant and Of
fensive garbage and waste matter that II IS
possible TO conceive. In short time these
blocks will be filled, and their fostering
contents neatly smoothed over with porous
river sand. Upon this odorous mass houses
of some innocent buyer will hereafter be
erected, and when occupied the tenants will
begin to wonder why they are always sick;
why typhoid fever, diphtheria and scarlet
fever should kill their families, while so
many in adjacent blocks escape. They do
not know that the city authorities have
permitted death-trap to be placed beneath
their dwellings. and they are responsible
for the murder of the innocents.
Such, however will be the fact.
In every alley and street in this
city putreiying CARL ag, is allowed
to lie fostering on the ground until the air,
the water and the soil is thoroughly pol
luted. This should, must, and can be
remedied by submitting all this waste and
decaying matter to the ordeal of fire. My
suggestion is TO have the city build a
crematory, one capable of reducing to clean
ashes and Stag all the waste products of the
city. The outlay will not be great, and
the saving of life, the preservation of
health, the increase of business and the
general welfare of the city will ten times
repay the cost of construction. The waste
itself will supply the fuel for consumption.
The city should be districted, each district
have all inspector, dump carts provided
which should take their rounds once or
twice day regularly, gather up the
garbage and waste products, which should,
under heavy fine for neglect, be placed in
properly constructed receptacles provided
for that purpose in the alleys for removal
carried at once to the crematory and
burned. Nothing should be left to chance;
all kinds OF nuisances should be vigorously
suppressed, and by the city provid-
ing this means even the dirtest
people could have no excuse to
keep their premises in filthy condition.
We can and should keep our city free from
all possible pollution of air, earth or water,
and If once an organized system is placed
in operation for that purpose we will
speedily get rid of the abominable cesspool,
privy and garbage nuisance The plan is
perfectly feasible it is in successful opera
ton in London and in several cities of the
United States, TO the great sanitary benefit
of those cities employing it. Perfect SANTA
ton is now the question of the hour, and
why should we lag behind in the march of
progress. ! simply present this suggestion
to the committee, as | look upon it as the
most important that can occupy the minds
OF those who really seek the city's welfare.
G. G. TYRRELL, NJ. d.
Sacramento. June 3. 1881.